Emphasis on shunning evil and repentance may seem counter to the Christmas message of peace and happiness , but this is what makes the peace and happiness possible .
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promise to His disciples : “ I am the light of the world . He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness but have the light of life .” ( John 8:12 )
The Lord could have chosen to be born in a palace and hailed as a king . But that is not how He chose to lead us . He was born in a simple stable , representing the still , quiet place where He can be born within our own hearts . We see similar themes of hardship and skepticism in such Christmas classics as A Christmas Carol , It ’ s a Wonderful Life and The Grinch Who Stole Christmas . In their own ways they lead to discovering a new spirit of what Christmas is all about . “ And the light shined in the darkness ; and the darkness comprehended it not .” ( John 1:5 )
Too many people had forgotten God because they did not know Him , so He came into the world to be seen and known as a human being – and understood as a human God . That is why He needed to be seen not as a king , separate from the people , but an innocent and vulnerable baby – someone just like them . And as it is with us , He had to be attacked and tempted by the hells throughout His life in order to triumph over them . Then He could restore the balance between heaven and hell that is essential to our spiritual freedom .
That is also why the similarly miraculous birth of John to the elderly Elizabeth and Zacharias needed to come before the birth of the Lord – because John ’ s mission was baptism and repentance . We know we must shun evil and repent before we can enter heaven . “ Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit , he cannot enter the kingdom of God .” ( John 3:5 )
Emphasis on shunning evil and repentance may seem counter to the Christmas message of peace and happiness , but this is what makes the peace and happiness possible .
The washing ritual of baptism also represents repentance : cleansing the spirit , with the promise of a life lived according to the Ten Commandments – the life that leads to heaven .
The Lord came on earth to teach us to love – to love Him by living His commandments and loving our neighbor . This is innocence – following Him rather than our own inclinations . But we have to find Him first . And that baby wrapped in swaddling cloths , lying in a manger , points the way . We make room for Him – in our own lives – by seeking Him in His Word and sharing His love with others .
Then there is Herod . He is often pushed aside among the happy ,
Emphasis on shunning evil and repentance may seem counter to the Christmas message of peace and happiness , but this is what makes the peace and happiness possible .
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